Kwassa Kwassa collects the hardest-driving soukous material the Bongo Man performed during the 1980s at the height of the European-African soukous dance craze. While other albums, most notably Amour Fou/Crazy Love and Zing... more &raquo Zong, offer equally strong material, Kwassa Kwassa is unmatched in energetic power. There were no still bodies when Kanda Bongo Man led the rave and this album shows why. It was the last collection guitarist Diblo Dibala graced with his spirited, nimble fingers, and songs like "Sai" and "Cantique" boast the Bongo Man's brilliant talent for high-energy songwriting awash in melody. Other highlights include the tumbling "Lela-Lela," where the female backup singing adds a lovely, uniquely African touch, and "Belle Amie," which captures well the Bongo Man's reedy voice floating earnestly with a hint of melancholy. An album not to be listened to just once or twice, but rather over and over and over. --Karen Karleski&laquo less

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Kwassa Kwassa collects the hardest-driving soukous material the Bongo Man performed during the 1980s at the height of the European-African soukous dance craze. While other albums, most notably Amour Fou/Crazy Love and Zing Zong, offer equally strong material, Kwassa Kwassa is unmatched in energetic power. There were no still bodies when Kanda Bongo Man led the rave and this album shows why. It was the last collection guitarist Diblo Dibala graced with his spirited, nimble fingers, and songs like "Sai" and "Cantique" boast the Bongo Man's brilliant talent for high-energy songwriting awash in melody. Other highlights include the tumbling "Lela-Lela," where the female backup singing adds a lovely, uniquely African touch, and "Belle Amie," which captures well the Bongo Man's reedy voice floating earnestly with a hint of melancholy. An album not to be listened to just once or twice, but rather over and over and over. --Karen Karleski

CD Reviews

Great Soukous

Ed Gibbon www.congocookbook.com | 11/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Kwassa Kwassa" refers to a dance that was very popular in Zaire (Congo) in the late 1980's and was much popularized by this record. The words "Kwassa Kwassa" might have come from the French "Quoi ça?" (What's that?) and the album cover lends support to this idea (see the lower right corner). If you want a very well played soukous (Congolese dance) album, this is it. Much of the credit must go to guitarist Diblo Dibala, whose riffs are unforgettable, and are the perfect accompaniment for Bongo Man's singing. Circa 1990 you couldn't step outside your house in Central Africa without hearing this record, as every taxi-driver and shop-keeper was playing it. This record is high-energy, exciting, and always uplifting."

Classic Congolese Elegance and Fire

Bob Port | Bloomington, Indiana USA | 12/02/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of Bongo Man's best CDs - better than his more recent ones - and one my favorite African pop CDs of all time. The songs are catchy and elegant. And the lead guitar, Diblo Dibala, is a genuine star producing classy and complex ostinato riffs that keep grabbing your ear. Another great feature is that you know you are listening to a DANCEBAND - one that plays together every day but today they just went into the studio and recorded. It is not a bunch of hotdogs playing around with overdubbing and studio effects. Warning: You may not fully appreciate this CD til the third or fourth time through - but that's just about the right time, I'd say."

Imagine a happy river with a smiling sum above

Ma WenRui | Minneapolis, MN USA | 02/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Soukous are joyous, wonderfully flowing, fast and rhytmic tunes, rooted in latin dance rhytms but with an African heart. Kanda Bongo Man is one of the greatest soukous artists ever and this CD is probably a God-sent gift to all who feel life is beautiful! Get it. Now!"

A Good Addition to a Soukous Collection

L. Blain | california United States | 09/28/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Kanda Bongo Man is real good live, but good CDs of his are hard to find. I really enjoye dthis CD,and heartily recommend it to anyone who already likes the musical genre, and to folks who are still checking it out. Nice dance music that makes your hips wanna shake...and if you know what you are doing, why not let them? My suggestion--buy this CD."